Embolism definition

ĕmbə-lĭzəm
Obstruction or occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus.
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An embolus.
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The intercalation of a day, month, etc. into a calendar, as in leap year.
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The time intercalated.
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The obstruction of a blood vessel by an embolus too large to pass through it.
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(loosely) An embolus.
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Obstruction or occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus.
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An embolus.
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A mass, such as an air bubble, detached blood clot, or foreign body, that travels in the bloodstream, lodges in a blood vessel, and obstructs or occludes it.
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The obstruction or occlusion of a blood vessel by such a mass.
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(pathology) An obstruction or occlusion of an artery by an embolus, that is by a blood clot, air bubble or other matter that has been transported by the blood stream.
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The insertion or intercalation of days into the calendar in order to correct the error arising from the difference between the civil year and the solar year.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
embolism
Plural:
embolisms

Origin of embolism

  • Middle English embolisme insertion of one or more days in a calendar from Late Latin embolismus from Greek embolismos from emballein to insert emblem

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old French embolisme (“intercalation of days in a calendar to correct errors”), from Late Latin embolismus.

    From Wiktionary

Embolism Sentence Examples

  • To the discovery of the parts played in disease by thrombosis and embolism we have referred above.

  • Should the portion of tissue deprived of its circulation be contained in an internal organ, as is so often the case where the obstruction in the artery is due to embolism, it becomes converted into what is known as an " infarction."

  • Without immediate and appropriate treatment, an embolism can be fatal.

  • In more serious disease states, such as severe asthma or moderate pulmonary embolism, respiratory alkalosis may occur.

  • This is called pulmonary embolism or PE and is a common cause of sudden, unexpected death.

More sentences

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Words near embolism in the Dictionary